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Our Methodology
Homicide refers to one person killing another, regardless of intent. Unlike murder, which implies intent, some homicides—such as justified or officer-involved deaths—are not crimes. That’s why the number of homicides is typically higher than murders.
WLBT uses the same criteria as the Jackson Police Department: we count all homicides, including justified ones, but exclude most vehicular homicides unless officially classified as such. Our numbers come from JPD releases, confirmations from police and the coroner, and
reports from other lead agencies when killings occur within Jackson city limits.
Because we count all homicides that happen in Jackson—not just those investigated by JPD—our totals may differ from those reported by individual agencies. For example, Capitol Police and Jackson State officers have led several homicide investigations in recent years.
Our data may be updated as new cases surface. In 2023, we discovered JPD had not disclosed 24 homicide cases, prompting a correction in our reporting. Since then, we regularly request updates to prevent similar omissions.
Some details—like age, race, or exact location—may be missing due to gaps in law enforcement reporting. Still, we work to verify and include as much information as possible to help the public and investigators.
